Sleigh-bells.



O. B. WANAMAKER.

SLEIGH BELLS.

APPLICATION FILED 001*.14, 1912,

1,084,718. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. WANAMAKER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO LEEDY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

SLEIGH-BELLS.

Patented Jan. 20,1914. Serial No. 725,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. WANA- MAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Sleigh-Bells, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a musical instrument, for use by the trap drummer of an orchestra, to introduce the sound of sleigh bells.

It has heretofore been customary to obtain the result above mentioned by the use of an ordinary flexible string of bells such as is commonly sold for attachment to a horse or vehicle. It is practically impossible to handle such an apparatus without making a noise, and, in view of the fact that the trap drummer is a very busy member of an orchestra, very undesirable effects are sometimes produced by the haste of the operator in picking up the flexible string of bells.

The object of my invention is, therefore, to produce a neat, efficient and readily handled instrument by means of which the sleigh bell effect may be produced and which may be handled quickly and readily either in such manner as to make no sound or in such manner as to make the desired bell sounds.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan of the instrument and Fig. 2 a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a plate, conveniently circular, upon which the desired number and variety of sleigh bells 11 are secured. In practice I find that it is convenient and desirable, for obtaining proper quality of tone, that this plate be made of resilient hard rubber or similar material. Plate 10 is provided with a central threaded hub 12 adapted to receive the threaded shank 13 of a convenient handle 14 which is secured to plate 10 axially. Such an instrument may be laid upon a table so as to be supported by one edge of a plate (or edges of adjacent bells) and the end of the handle, thus leaving space between the handle and table so that itmay be quickly and accurately grasped and moved without danger of move ment of the balls within the bells, if desired. At the same time desired tones of the bells may be obtained by shaking the apparatus and uniformity of tone with the bells may be obtained because they will all occupy the same positions relative to their inclosed balls. For instance, by holding the plate 10 substantially vertical and shaking the apparatus, one character of tone may be produced; by holding the plate 10 horizontal with the bells uppermost, another and very clear tone of hell may be produced; and by holding the plate 10 substantially horizontal with the bells underneath the plate, a uniform muffled play of the bells may be produced. These different qualities of tone are due to the difference in the places where the balls within the sleigh bells strike and rest upon the bells proper. Such a uniformity of manipulation of the ordinary flexible string of bells is of course impossible.

I claim as my invention:

1. A musical instrument 7 plate having a plurality of bells attached to one face only thereof, and a handle projecting transversely and substantially centrally from and supporting said plate.

2. A musical instrument comprising a plate having a plurality of bells attached to one face thereof, and a handle projecting transversely and substantially centrally from and supporting said plate.

3. A musical instrument comprising a plate having a plurality of bells attached to one face only thereof, and a handle secured to said plate and projecting laterally from the plane thereof.

at. A musical instrument comprising a plate having a plurality of bells attached to one face thereof, and a handle secured to said plate and projecting laterally from the plane thereof.

A musical instrument comprising a plate having a plurality of sleigh bells at tached to one face only thereof, and a handle attached to said plate but in a different plane from the plate.

comprising a 6. A musical instrument comprising a plate having a plurality of sleigh bells attached to one face thereof, and a handle attached to said plate but in a different plane 5 from. the plate.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana,

v Copies of this; patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the CHARLES B. WANAMAKER.

Witnesses:

MAPLE MYERS, v G. B. SoHLnY.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C. 

